Part of Me

Chapter 29

Shades of saturated yellow blanketed the skies across the horizon, where skyscrapers and great buildings can be seen not far in distance. The gleam of bright rays of sunlight peeked through the enormous glass panes of the compound, shining its way onto the red hair of Natasha Romanoff. Its gleam was so bright, anyone who saw her hair at that moment could've swore they saw gold. With a cup of dark coffee in her hands and her grey uniform jacket with its signature 'A', she looked over her shoulders to find someone watching her.

"I figured you'd come down here soon," she said with her distinctive husky voice.

"Why'd you think I come here? The view or because you're here?" he said with that certain warmth that envelopes her heart with joy and comfort.

"Both?" she smirked as she turned to face him and walked towards him. Her back was now facing the glass panes which made the golden rays contrast her features. She handed her cup of coffee to him, but he lifted an eyebrow at her when he saw how it was dark. As if on cue, she took a creamer out of her right pocket and poured it into his coffee.

"You know me best," he said to her and pulled her close by her shoulders and rested his chin on her head, giving it a small peck before sipping onto his coffee.

"It's not everyday we get a view like this," she told him quietly against his chest.

It's true. They don't.

Not after this, it was all just a dream Steve Rogers could only dream of as he mourn of her death. He could no longer find her waiting for him downstairs early in the morning and make him some coffee. Nor can he find her to hug her and pull her close into an embrace. Yet, during the days he could, he had not given her his best. He had not had the chance to make them official or hear those 3 magical words being said in the most genuine way from his beloved redhead. He had so many time, to do all he could, but he didn't because he thought she would not want to be with someone so 'out-of-time'. In the end, he could only regret the chances he didn't take.

The lights which used to shine upon the grey surfaces of the compound had been dimmed following the hours when Natasha was no longer there. There sat Steve, shorter streams of tears still flowed through his cheeks as he recalled each moments with her he wants to experience again. Reckless, stupid, coward - those were the words he described himself as after the events which cost him the loss of his love. If he had not been reckless about silly little things, letting jealousy overwhelm him, if he had not been stupid to not see that coming, if he had not been a coward and broke his heart, she would have had been here at this very moment teasing him with all her fossil jokes.

"It's not your fault," the voice of the archer startled him. The archer himself had not been doing well, isolating himself in his 'nests' even his voice still sounded as if he were just done crying. His eyes were red and swollen, not so hawk-ish anymore.

"People keep on telling me that as if it would change the fact that it was," Steve replied with his head looking down.

"This is Ivan's fault," Clint replied and Steve shot his head up to look at him,"he planned all this, even if Natasha had not met Barnes that day, he would still have infinite plans to bring her back. He thinks we'll fall right into his trap if Natasha was hurt, but we didn't and thank god we didn't because if we did she'd be in the most undeserving place there is for her."

"I should've bargained with him," Steve defended.

"There's no way you'll win, he's ruthless and he's the one who taught Natasha to be the spy she is, can you imagine how great he is at winning a bargain?" Clint shot back.

"There's other ways we could've-"

"We could've what? Bring her to him just so we can save her? Did you actually bought his bullshit? He's not gonna cure her, he's gonna make her into one of his puppets again, his devushka Ivana or whatever the hell he calls her. That ruthless assassin I once met, I cannot let Natasha be that person again. So shut the hell up, Rogers, this is not your fault. If she were here she'd drag your weepy ass off the floor and get you to work. So, I suggest you get up now and let's get going and pay her some respect, alright? Everybody's waiting," Steve sighed and stood up, "once this is done, we'll avenge our girl and kick this guy back to where he came from, agreed?"